East St. John's Daren Williams called it the toughest
decision he's ever had to make.

In the end, that feeling of home was what he wanted most.
The 6-foot-4, 253-pound defensive end signed with Tulane on Wednesday after
flipping his original Tulane commitment to Kansas State on Jan. 26.

"I don't regret flipping," said Williams, of flipping back
to the Green Wave. "That flip was made by me as a young man. I had to do what I
had to do for me and my family.

"I gave up a chance for playing for Kansas State, but I
wanted to make sure it was right for me."

Williams visited Tulane over the weekend against Kansas
State's wishes, but the visit ultimately cemented his decision. He admits
getting caught up in his first official visit at Kansas State.

"My mom told me you don't go to something that shines and
glitters and pick it because of that," Williams said. "I'm happy. The stress is
off, and it's over with."

Williams had plenty of company on National Signing Day.
Fellow defensive linemen

Davaron Stockman (Dartmouth College) and Charlie Payne
(Grambling) signed their letters of intent. Lorne McGuffy will walk-on at
Southern. Stockman, who lost his mother in 2012, is believed to be East St.
John's first Ivy-League player.

"I woke up crying knowing she wasn't going to be here today,
but I know I made her proud," Stockman said.

"We have one Division I signee, but Tulane did offer
Davaron," Coach Phil Banko said. "This is the most we've ever signed. It's a
strong testimony to our community and what East St. John has to offer."

Williams finished his senior season with 72 tackles, 19
sacks and 30 tackles for loss. He said he looks up to East St. John defensive
line coach Gregory Gathers, who is still the career quarterback sacks leader at
Georgia Tech. Williams was one sack away from tying Gathers' 20-sack season his
junior year at East St. John.

"He always had the want to," Gathers said. "It was just
learning the technique. When he pressured the quarterback against Scotlandville
on a screen pass and then turned around and almost made the tackle on the
player who got the ball, that's big time."

"He always had the potential to be something special."

Like a lot of his teammates, he was a regular during
Saturday morning drills. Williams played soccer at East St. John his junior
year to better his footwork. He's also on the track and power lifting team. When
he's not focused on football, he works five days a week at a McDonald's in
LaPlace to help out his mother, Kelsa.

"He felt home at Tulane," Payne said. "I'm not surprised he
flipped. He always does the unexpected. Just like on the football field. He
makes the unexpected play."